San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-02-01
HOW HE ESCAPED DEATH
WHEN STABBED BY JOHN WILKES
BOOTH AFTER LINCoLN'S ASsAS-
SINATION.

/ William Withers, of Myra Goodwin's
Company an Eye Witness TO the
Escape, Tells the Story of
that Fatal Night.
Mr. w. Withers, Jr., the musical di-
rector Of Myra GoOdwin's company, is
| an historical character, for he WAS en-
! gagged as leader of the orchestra at
| Ford's opera house when President
| Lincoln was shot and was stabbed by
John Wilkes Booth, when he was escap-
| ing after having murdered the president.
Knowing this, the LIGHT perigrinator
sought Mr.. Wtthers yesterday and In
answer to his interrogatiOns, that gen.
| tleman said:
Yes, it is quite true, that I played
an imprOmptu part In
LINCOLN's ASSASSINATION,
but don't like to speak much of the
matter, for at this late date IL does no
good, but II you want the facts, l
| will give them TO you. AT the close
| OF the war | was leader OF the or, hestra
at Ford's opera house and we were play
| ing Our American Cousins" Lincoln
had not attended the theatre for some
| time prior to the fatal hight. When he
came he entered modestly and tried to
escape observation. | don't remember
any acknowledgement until that night.
| 1t was known that he WAS to be there,
| and In answer to vOcterous applause he
| bowed his Acknowledgement and smiled
good temperedly on the people. i fancy
/ can see him now just az he then ap-
| peared.
At that time [ had composed q song
entitled Honor to Our Soldiers" and 1t
| had been rehearsed TO be sung on the
occasion Of the presidents visit. Laura
Keene promised me that it should be
sang brtween the first and second acts,
but 1t was put of until
BECAME ExAsPERATED,
because had taken much trouble in
| the production of the song, and
| thought was not treated fairly.
| then went behind the scenes to
expostulate with Stage Manager Wright
found him In narrow entrance just
behind the governor that controlled
the lights. was angry and when l saw
SpaDgler, a scene shifted about TO ex-
tinguish the lights. l cried OUT, Look
out Sgangler. want To talk TO Mr..
Wright" He answered, What do you
want ?" and seemed as If he desired TO
| remain there. | reiOrted, sits none Of
your business. What do you mean just
move on" He left reluctantly. COM
planned to Mr.. Wright and he promised
that the song should be sang in the last
act. | was satisfied and was returning
to my post in the orchestra. The stage
managers whistle blew for the scenes of
the last act, and called Spangler to his
duty. Just then heard a
PISTOL SHOT.
knew there was no pistol
| used in the play and
o~,n-.aH nd ppoiftafad in ha
row passage from the stage TO tie out
| side. As | stood, heard heavy Jump
on the stage, and in another second,
some one entered the passage from the
| stage. All came so quickly on me that
| could not comprehend the situation.
The man advanced on me with his
head bent down as If to avoid detection,
and in the dim light he presented most
fTightful appearance. AS he raised his
head, saw that his face was wild and
haggard, his hair stood at an end and his
eyes seemed to bolt from their sockets.
In one hand he held large knife and he
came at me in threatening manner.
knew the man well and that II was
JOHN WILKES BOOTH,
but | had no idea Of the crime
that he had committed. UtteriGg a
curse he sprang upon me and stabbed
me. | felt the knife enter my clothes
and rs | thought wound me. Then he
struck me a severe blow on the back Of
The neck with the handle of the knife.
| and fell, dazed, to the ground. He ran
over me, and as he pulled open an outer
| door, turned and saw a horses head
which Peanut" John, an employe Of
the theatre, was holding by the bride.
| The door closed and that was the last |
saw of Booth Before could get up two
men run over me In hot pursuit of the
| murderer. was so stunned and scared
that | did not move until detectives
came and
ARRESTED ME
| as an accomplish. Then they told me
| that Lincoln had been murdered. could
not believe 1t until they led me
to the front Of the stage, and
there, looking at the presidents
| box. / saw the murdered chief, his wife
| standing over him weeping, and Laura
Keene by his side holding a pitcher OF
water.
l was taken before Mayor Wallack
and closely questioned. They exam
ined me and took my testimony. Then
it it was found that the clothing was
| cut to the skin, but my body was not in
| jured, and after all the only injury | sus-
| ds a thC hOChs
no doubt caused by
BOOTHS KNIFE
in reversing it after striking the blow
that knocked me down. NV explanation
satisfied the enquirers that l was inno-
cent and | was released, but am scared
even now when l think what narrow
escape l had from death and how |
might have been innOcently involved in a
tragedy that might have condemned me
to murderer's fate.
knew Booth well, and had no quarrel
with me. | am satisfied that when he
saw me in the narrow passage he came
to the conclusion that was there to ar
resI hun, ana being determined to es-
cape at all hazard, he had aimed that
blow at me, intending to kill me and re-
move at once barrier to his escape and
u witness that could identify him. This
thing occurred long time ago, but 1t is
as wildly
| IMPRESSED UPON MY MIND
as If it occurred yesterday, and some
times 1t seems like hOrrid nightmare.
| don't like to talk OF it, Snd as / have
given you all the data, let's change the
conversation"
| U4strIcL Court.
| Tho first dow nf tho trial nf tho Contt